Chapter 1
Jim Gallien picks up a hitchhiker, who introduces himself as Alex, about 4 miles out of Fairbanks on April 28, 1992. Alex asks for a ride to the border of Denali National Park where he would trudge his way towards the bus thats located deep in the wood. Alex shows Jim a map of Stampede Trail and said that is where he plans to go. Gallien tries to persuade Alex into not going because he is unprepared for a trip like that. He carries a small rifle and a backpack weighing about 25 or 30 lbs. The only food Alex has is a 10 lb bag of rice and he carries no water. Alex also declines going to Anchorage for decent gear, but Gallien finally convinces him into taking an old pair of rubber boots and some lunch. After that, Gallien dropped Alex off at the trail and watched him walk away.
Chapter 2
On the Northern margin of the Alaska Range is the Stampede Trail, the route Chris McCandless followed into the wild. The trail was set on fire by Earl Pilgrim in 1930 and in 1961 a construction company was hired to fix it up, but the project stopped in 1963. One of the buses was left behind to serve as shelter for hunters and trappers. On September 6, 1992, 3 moose hunters crossed the Teklanika River and arrived at the bus. They found 2 people, a boy and a girl, looking quite spooked. There was a bad stench coming from the bus. When they walked up to it, they found an S.O.S note taped to the door which was open. While inspecting, the hunters found Chris's body inside a sleeping bag. His belongings and remains were removed from the bus. At the time of the autopsy, Chris's remains weighed about 67 lbs. Starvation was most likely cause of death.
Chapter 3 While in Carthage, South Dakota, Chris had become close to Wayne Westerburg, who picked him up as a hitchhiker. Chris told him his name was Alex. He worked for Wayne and found a ‘surrogate family’ in Westerburg. Chris kept in touch with Wayne after he left, calling or writing so often. In reality, Chris was the son of Walt and Billie and was raised in Annadale, Virginia. He had a total of 8 siblings and was closest to his sister, Carine. Chris went to Emory University and earned good grades. Chris had money left after college, but donated it to a charity, and then disappeared soon after graduation. Chris McCandless packed all of his belongings into his car and headed west. He adapted a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and invented a new life for himself.
Chapter 4 Chris collected his memories in a journal snap shot album. He first traveled to Lake Mead. Chris enjoyed his freedom until a flash flood hit. He was able to save his tent and belongings, but not his car. He abandoned it leaving most of his things and burning his money. He traveled around the west area for a while wandering to many places. He worked every now and then and met some interesting people. Chris’s parents hired a detective to look for him because they were worried, but could never catch up to him. He bought a canoe and traveled down the Colorado River into Mexico. He got lost in the canals and had to ask people for directions for his destination point. When Chris couldn’t find his journey’s end, he ditched the canoe and walked into the US. He spent 6 weeks exploring the southwest and eventually ended up in Las Vegas.
Chapter 5 In October of 1991, Chris enters Bullhead City, Colorado. He enjoyed the town, but a person would not expect him to stay there. He got a job working at McDonald’s. The people who worked there described Chris as hardworking and dependable, but the manager had to remind him repeatedly to wear socks. Chris also met a man named Charlie. He told him to live in a trailer instead of living out on the streets. He lived there for a short period of time. After that, Chris went to live in ‘The Slabs’. He met Jan and her boyfriend and lived with them. The people Chris met described him as enjoying himself and having a good time during his stay. After a few weeks, Chris decided to leave and make his way close to his point of interest.
Jim Gallien picks up a hitchhiker, who introduces himself as Alex, about 4 miles out of Fairbanks on April 28, 1992. Alex asks for a ride to the border of Denali National Park where he would trudge his way towards the bus thats located deep in the wood. Alex shows Jim a map of Stampede Trail and said that is where he plans to go. Gallien tries to persuade Alex into not going because he is unprepared for a trip like that. He carries a small rifle and a backpack weighing about 25 or 30 lbs. The only food Alex has is a 10 lb bag of rice and he carries no water. Alex also declines going to Anchorage for decent gear, but Gallien finally convinces him into taking an old pair of rubber boots and some lunch. After that, Gallien dropped Alex off at the trail and watched him walk away.
Chapter 2
On the Northern margin of the Alaska Range is the Stampede Trail, the route Chris McCandless followed into the wild. The trail was set on fire by Earl Pilgrim in 1930 and in 1961 a construction company was hired to fix it up, but the project stopped in 1963. One of the buses was left behind to serve as shelter for hunters and trappers. On September 6, 1992, 3 moose hunters crossed the Teklanika River and arrived at the bus. They found 2 people, a boy and a girl, looking quite spooked. There was a bad stench coming from the bus. When they walked up to it, they found an S.O.S note taped to the door which was open. While inspecting, the hunters found Chris's body inside a sleeping bag. His belongings and remains were removed from the bus. At the time of the autopsy, Chris's remains weighed about 67 lbs. Starvation was most likely cause of death.
Chapter 3
While in Carthage, South Dakota, Chris had become close to Wayne Westerburg, who picked him up as a hitchhiker. Chris told him his name was Alex. He worked for Wayne and found a ‘surrogate family’ in Westerburg. Chris kept in touch with Wayne after he left, calling or writing so often. In reality, Chris was the son of Walt and Billie and was raised in Annadale, Virginia. He had a total of 8 siblings and was closest to his sister, Carine. Chris went to Emory University and earned good grades. Chris had money left after college, but donated it to a charity, and then disappeared soon after graduation. Chris McCandless packed all of his belongings into his car and headed west. He adapted a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and invented a new life for himself.
Chapter 4
Chris collected his memories in a journal snap shot album. He first traveled to Lake Mead. Chris enjoyed his freedom until a flash flood hit. He was able to save his tent and belongings, but not his car. He abandoned it leaving most of his things and burning his money. He traveled around the west area for a while wandering to many places. He worked every now and then and met some interesting people. Chris’s parents hired a detective to look for him because they were worried, but could never catch up to him. He bought a canoe and traveled down the Colorado River into Mexico. He got lost in the canals and had to ask people for directions for his destination point. When Chris couldn’t find his journey’s end, he ditched the canoe and walked into the US. He spent 6 weeks exploring the southwest and eventually ended up in Las Vegas.
Chapter 5
In October of 1991, Chris enters Bullhead City, Colorado. He enjoyed the town, but a person would not expect him to stay there. He got a job working at McDonald’s. The people who worked there described Chris as hardworking and dependable, but the manager had to remind him repeatedly to wear socks. Chris also met a man named Charlie. He told him to live in a trailer instead of living out on the streets. He lived there for a short period of time. After that, Chris went to live in ‘The Slabs’. He met Jan and her boyfriend and lived with them. The people Chris met described him as enjoying himself and having a good time during his stay. After a few weeks, Chris decided to leave and make his way close to his point of interest.
Jordan Nolker